Amazing Hong Kong Micro-Apartment

Share this:

What the architects fit into just 309 sq feet of space must be seen to be believed.

Living in central Hong Kong comes with its challenges. Sky-high rents and limited space are the two main obstacles to a young couple wanting the city lifestyle.

Hong Kong locals Michelle and Andy approached architecture firm LAAB when they purchased an unrenovated 309 sq ft apartment asking whether they could somehow add a full kitchen, large bathtub, home cinema, gym, cat friendly spaces and plenty of storage into the tiny space… and this is the stunning result.

Guided by a “Form Follows Time” philosophy, LAAB created spaces that open and close depending on the purposes needed at a particular time. The apartment’s bathtub area, for example, is used as a traditional bathroom with bathtub but also as a separate bathtub a guest can shower in while the host brushes teeth or vice versa, a two-tier seating area acting as a home cinema for the couple and their friends, and a guest bedroom for short stay guests.

Most spaces can also be blended; the home cinema configuration can be experienced while in the bath, for example. The level of flexibility required 30 design iterations and lots of experimentation. Meticulous planning and extraordinary craftsmanship were also crucial. All elements, from the 4K curved TV, to the dining table, to the make-up table and storage are designed to hide flat and smooth to keep the flat looking neat and spacious.

The apartment was not only designed for Michelle and Andy but also for their three cats, Banoffee, Dumpling and Tuxedo, with cat areas including a cat walk around the ceiling, cat ladder, litterbox hidden beneath the bathroom sink, cat food trays hidden within the kitchen cabinets and a hidden den for them to relax in.

“The most important thing is how comfortable the apartment is,” say the couple. “Many of our friends come over and visit our place, and they have never seen such a nice kitchen even though their own apartments are bigger than ours.”